Construction continues on the 2.5-mile extension of Idaho 16 connecting Chinden Boulevard (U.S. 20/26) to State Street (Idaho 44), including a 1,726-foot-long, 11-span, 10-pier, 88-foot-wide bridge over the Boise River and a new crossing of the Phyllis Canal. More than 1.5 million pounds of rebar and over 36.6 million pounds of concrete are used in the bridge.

Much of the project is shut down for the winter, but some activities that are not weather-dependent continue. Work began in May 2012 and is expected to finish by the fall of 2014.

Two lanes of traffic will be open for traffic traveling east or west, and there will continue to be turn lanes for northbound Idaho 16 traffic only.

Crews are placing pedestrian rail, tying bar for median parapet, removing temporary crossing and constructing permanent crossing at the South Slough. They also removed the Anderson Slough crossing, and are placing right-of-way fencing.

Concrete Placing Co., of Boise, and Idaho Sand & Gravel, of Nampa, are the prime contractors on these projects. Knife River Construction, of Boise, and Nampa Paving are two of the main subcontractors for this work. The total construction cost is $38.94 million.

ITD will begin widening the bridge over Ten Mile Creek on Meridian Road and Interstate 84 Monday (Dec. 23). The work is necessary to prepare for additional lanes on Meridian Road and the westbound on-ramp to I-84 as a part of the new Meridian Interchange project that will begin next spring.

Most construction will occur during daylight hours; the I-84 westbound on-ramp at Meridian Road will be open at all times. Lanes on Meridian Road will remain open in each direction during the days. Over the next several months, lane restrictions might occur on Meridian Road overnight from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Idaho Power has begun moving power lines and poles for utility work on Meridian Road. The city of Meridian will install a sewer line on the west side of Meridian Road from Overland Road north to Ten Mile Creek. Lanes on Meridian Road will remain open during the utility work.

Granite Excavation, of Cascade, is the contractor on this $1 million project.

Last summer, the Idaho Transportation Board agreed to replace the Meridian, Broadway and Gowen I-84 interchanges to improve mobility, safety and economic opportunity for Idahoans. The projects are being advanced through savings from the GARVEE (Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle) program.

Projects were selected based on readiness, pavement condition, congestion and safety. The total cost for the projects on I-84 is anticipated to be $124 million, $82 million of that coming from GARVEE. The construction cost is estimated at $90 million. Bids should be opened and contracts awarded by February.

BOISE COUNTYGARDEN VALLEY - South Fork Payette River Bridge

Crews are working to replace the old bridge over the south fork of the Payette River near Garden Valley.

The old bridge, located southwest of town, also called the Alder Creek Bridge or Silver Bridge, has a sufficiency rating of less than 50. Boise County is the local sponsor. The new bridge will be relocated upstream and the existing bridge will serve as a detour during construction.

The project is in “winter shutdown” mode. Construction on the other half of the bridge will begin next spring, after crews remove the existing bridge. Work is expected to take most of summer 2014.

Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company Inc., of Draper, Utah, is the contractor on this $2.3 million project.

This is an LHTAC (Local Highway Technical Assistance Council) project. ITD has oversight responsibility for this work.

VALLEY COUNTYCASCADE – Bridge Replacement

Replacement of the North Fork Payette River Bridge in downtown Cascade is wrapping up for the winter. Work will be suspended through the winter and crews will return to plant willows in the spring.

Crews are still cleaning up the work site, finishing the underside of the bridge deck, and completing permanent signing.

The old, narrow, width-restricted bridge was replaced with one more than twice as wide. The earlier bridge was 24 feet wide, and was replaced with a 60-foot wide, 393-foot long, three-span bridge. The new bridge has two 12-foot lanes, two 11-foot shoulders and a 14-foot median.

In addition, a paved extension to the dirt shared-use path under the bridge on the north side of the river was built to provide access from both sides of the bridge to the new riverside park.

Wadsworth Brothers Construction Co. Inc., of Draper, Utah, is the contractor on this $4.83 million project.

Highway
construction is one of the key forces pushing Idaho toward continued economic vitality by creating jobs, improving safety and reducing traffic congestion.